This video discusses lumbar injuries, commonly known as low back injuries. It explains the anatomy of the lumbar region and the types of injuries that can occur, particularly from trauma. The video also emphasizes the importance of proper treatment and the role of orthopedic and neurosurgeons in recovery.
lumbar injuries refer to injuries in the lower back region, specifically affecting the lumbar vertebrae. These injuries can result from trauma, such as car accidents or workplace incidents.
Treatment for lumbar injuries can vary. Many injuries may heal with physical therapy, medications, or epidural steroid injections, while others may require surgical intervention.
If you experience low back pain, it's important to consult a healthcare professional. They can help determine the cause and recommend appropriate treatment options.
When I was a child growing up, I can remember people talking about somebody had suffered a slipped disc. And those are what we call lumbar or low back injuries. So the term lumbar basically means the low back, the area, basically what I like to call where your belt goes or your belt loops on your pants. And that's what we call the lumbar region of the spine. It's basically the L1 to the L5 S1 region, which is a little bit above your belt loop and then right below an L1. And what that means is you have the L1 or the lumbar 1 vertebral disc, you have the L2, the L3 and L4 and L5 and so on. And S1 simply means the sacral, it's the tailbone. And this is an area where we commonly see injuries, especially resulting from trauma. When people have low back pain, it's usually due to inflammation or injury to the lumbar area or the low back part of the spine. Now lumbar injuries or low back injuries are common in car accidents, on the job injuries, all kinds of accidents. And frankly, they're probably the most common injury that we see in the personal injury world. Now a lot of low back injuries resolve a time, they resolve a physical therapy. Maybe that person has to go through epidural steroid injections. Maybe they have to take medications. A lot of those injuries will resolve with time. But there are those low back injuries that require more, they necessitate surgery, such as herniated disc or crushed vertebrae. And that's where the orthopedic spine surgeon or the neurosurgeon is so key in helping our clients get back on their feet. These injuries can be devastating if not properly treated. And even with proper treatment, sometimes the damage is so extensive that the person never is truly without back pain. The key in these cases is, like with Tom and I, we have worked with so many orthopedic spine specialists, so many neurosurgeons throughout Alabama and southern Tennessee, that we are able to assist our clients in getting them to the appropriate treating physician. Some orthopedic surgeons are very good at working with crushed vertebrae. They may not be necessarily a great disc or herniated disc surgeon. Some neurosurgeons are great at fixing or healing herniated disc or nerve root entrapment, but not necessarily repairing bone damage. So Tom and I, through our years of practice, have developed these relationships with these doctors and we help our clients get to the appropriate surgeon who will provide them the best of care and then help us in pursuing their case and getting a recovery to help offset and help our clients recoup the damages they sustained.
